It鈥檚 early on a Tuesday morning in mid-March, and Isabella Calidonna is ready to run. She鈥檚 got a hydration pack wrapped around her back and a smile on her face while standing next to the Baroque Four Rivers Fountain in the heart of Rome, Italy. This centerpiece of the famed Navona Piazza, she tells me, is among more than 2,000 fountains in the city designed by the masterful Italian sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini more than 400 years ago.

Calidonna is the founder of , a Rome-based running tour company, and she鈥檚 leading me on an easy 5-kilometer run that will zigzag through the city鈥檚 maze-like alleys. They鈥檙e paved with black basalt, referred to as sampietrini in Italian.

The iconic cobblestones date back to the 16th century, when they were first used to cover Saint Peter鈥檚 Square in front of Saint Peter鈥檚 Basilica, the iconic Italian High Renaissance church in Vatican City. These are the kind of details that Calidonna, who has a Ph.D. in art history and also studied archeology, easily shares mid-stride.

鈥淚 work in great beauty,鈥� she says, chuckling. 鈥淩ome is very special鈥攆ull of beauty that has been layered over centuries, from the medieval period to the Renaissance. You can see all that history here.鈥�

Save for local shop owners preparing to open, at 7 A.M. Rome is unusually hushed and absent of tourists, an ideal moment to run through Italy鈥檚 most populous city of nearly three million.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a very particular experience,鈥� Calidonna says of Rome鈥檚 pre-breakfast hour ambiance.

From the honeyed rays of sunlight that drench the city鈥檚 historic facades, to the quiet and crowdless streets, Calidonna describes this interval of the day as sacred and magical, insisting that it鈥檚 worth a wake-up call to encounter this tamer face of the city.

A Run-Tour of the Best of Rome

Calidonna, a six-time marathon finisher, no longer trains to race long distances. But she remains an avid runner. She started coaching in 2016 and logs roughly 20 miles per week as the owner of ArcheoRunning, which she founded in 2019. After constantly encountering tourists studying maps mid-run, Calidonna thought it was a prime opportunity to offer a guided running experience while also bridging her love for art, history, and archeology in her beloved adopted home.

鈥淢y running tours are for everyone,鈥� Calidonna says. She adds that she accommodates all paces for the 13 running tours she offers. The company also features seven walking tours.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 use maps. I am the map!鈥� -Isabella Calidonna, founder of ArcheoRunning听

鈥淭he Best of Rome鈥� tour is among her most popular. As part of the experience, she brings runners to iconic public squares and famed spots, like the Spanish Steps鈥攖he longest and widest staircase in Europe built in the 1720s. The tour also traverses architectural masterpieces, like the Pantheon. The ancient temple, dedicated to the 12 gods of the Roman religion, is one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in the world. A visit to the renowned Baroque Trevi Fountain鈥攄ubbed the world鈥檚 wishing well, attracting between 10,000 and 12,000 tourists daily鈥攊s another highlight of the rendezvous.

One of ArcheoRunning鈥檚 more atypical experiences includes taking runners southeast to the city鈥檚 鈥済reen lungs鈥� to log miles on one of the oldest Roman consular roads. Calidonna describes the area as an open-air museum, where six of the ancient Roman aqueducts鈥攗sed to transport fresh water for baths, fountains, and drinking to highly populated areas鈥攁re preserved. Dating back to 312 B.C.E. and built over a period of roughly 500 years, the Roman aqueduct systems are widely considered to be a masterful and advanced display of engineering.

Beat the Crowds Off the Beaten Path

On this Tuesday morning, I joined Calidonna for ArcheoRunning鈥檚 鈥淗idden Rome鈥� running tour to visit a few of the lesser-known spots in the city. Our first stopping point is the ruins of the Stadium of Domitian, which is located beneath Piazza Navona. A rendered image of the stadium illustrates a horseshoe-shaped arena, which was formerly used for wrestling, foot races, and pentathlons. The space could accommodate 30,000 spectators (still significantly smaller than the better-known Colosseum, which could hold up to 80,000 people, while the Circus Maximus, the largest chariot stadium in ancient Rome, could fill more than 150,000).

I follow Calidonna to Via Coronari, an ancient Roman road in the heart of the city. Formerly referred to as Via Recta, the street was used by pilgrims on the journey to Saint Peter鈥檚 Basilica, she explains. These days, it鈥檚 full of renovated apartments sandwiched between art galleries and is also a place to hunt for antiques.

As we head to the Ponte district, Calidonna pauses and points at an inconspicuous arcaded lane, Vicolo San Trifone. This, she says, is one of the most distinct streets in the city鈥攖he narrowest in Rome, a fact that is often lost on tourists and locals alike. We move on to one of Rome鈥檚 oldest markets, Campo de鈥� Fiori, careful to steer clear of vendors meticulously arranging baskets of fruits and vegetables and buckets of fresh flowers. After we quickly pass by, we continue to a medieval courtyard of Ivy-wrapped ochre houses located through Arco degli Acetari. In the past, the area was used by vinegar makers before it was transformed into accommodations.

As we continue still off the beaten tourist track, Calidonna shepherds me to Passetto del Biscione, a tunnel with a stunning blue frescoed ceiling of cherubs and festoons. In 1796, the passage was reportedly the site of a miracle: an image of the Virgin Mary was allegedly seen moving her eyes, attracting pious Christians from around the city. The passage also served as a corridor to the Theater of Pompey, Rome鈥檚 first theater that was dedicated to Pompey the Great, Julius Caesar鈥檚 rival.

By the time we reach our second-to-last stop, I can鈥檛 help but gaze in awe inside the courtyard of the Palazzo della Sapienza. Here, Calidonna shows me the oldest university in Rome, and the largest in Europe, founded in the 13th century by Pope Boniface VIII. The building, designed by 17th-century architectural genius Francesco Borromini, is a Baroque masterpiece.

As we wrap up the run, Calidonna leads me to the back of the Pantheon. It鈥檚 certainly not a hidden gem. Rather, it鈥檚 one of the most popular architecture sites in the center of Rome鈥攁nd the world. This, however, leads to our final stop, the ruins of the Baths of Agrippa. It鈥檚 the formerly private bath complex of Agrippa, the Roman general and son-in-law of Augustus, the first emperor of ancient Rome.

I鈥檓 still absorbing Calidonna鈥檚 granular details as we finish running and arrive at Caff猫 Sant Eustachio, the oldest coffee roasting company in Rome. The cafe uses water from an ancient aqueduct to make its coffee, like the Americano I sip as I gaze outside, noticing how much Rome has come to life, and it鈥檚 only 8 A.M.

A morning with ArcheoRunning feels like stepping into another world, one that serves as an amuse-bouche of the city鈥檚 culture, history, and traditions. I鈥檓 already ruminating on my return to the Eternal City.

___________________________________________________________

This article was first published by RUN.

The post When in Rome, Do as the Runners Do appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

It was a slow kill in a very fast race. Nikki Hiltz, easily recognizable in a distinctive black leopard print Lululemon onesie amid a sea of ubiquitous fluorescent kits, sprung out from lane one with the gun and settled on the rail. A hard-charging Elle St. Pierre led the field through the first 300 meters in nearly 45 seconds flat鈥攁 blazing 4:01 minute per mile pace. Yet Hiltz, tucked in fourth, looked unfazed, their orange, pink, and black Puma spikes bouncing off the track with each stride.

It was the women鈥檚 1500 meter final at the U.S. Olympic Trials for track and field on June 30 in Eugene, Oregon. And Hiltz was waiting.

In the buildup to that race, the 29-year-old Hiltz had put in months of training, logging 70 miles a week at their high-altitude training base in Flagstaff, Arizona, along with routine strength work and numerous speed and double lactate threshold sessions on the track. Unlike in years past, however, Hiltz approached this race with another layer of preparation.

They got serious about prioritizing their mental health last December, when they sought out a sports psychologist.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 going to set you apart [from your competitors] is your belief, your mindset, and your mental health,鈥� Hiltz says. 鈥淭he Olympics, the Olympic Trials, it鈥檚 a huge emotional thing. I want to cover all my bases so that I go in ready for anything.鈥�

Every week, Hiltz met with a sports psychologist to dive into 鈥渆verything you would possibly talk to a therapist about,鈥� as they put it. From their upbringing in Aptos, California, where they found a love for track as a youth and also began to experiment with their gender identity at age six, to career hiccups, and coming out, twice.

Hiltz had previously come out as gay while in college. And in 2021, their gender identity .

鈥淚t鈥檚 been really helpful to unpack,鈥� Hiltz says. 鈥淵ou bring it with you to the track. Whether or not it affects you during the race, it鈥檚 a part of you.鈥�

The result? Hiltz has had their best year on the track yet. They won their first global medal鈥攁 silver in the 1500 meters at the World Athletics Indoor Championships on March 3 in Glasgow鈥� and they made their first Olympic team in June by winning the 1500-meter finals in Eugene.

鈥淚鈥檝e found through working with her I can be more confrontational and assertive, and it doesn鈥檛 mean that people aren鈥檛 going to like me or make space for me,鈥� Hiltz says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 been really helpful when it comes to things like correcting people who get my pronouns wrong or things like that. That has translated to being more confident on the track. I can take up space here.鈥�

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Making Changes

Working on enhancing their mental health has been a game-changer, especially in comparison to their mindset three years ago. In March 2021, on Transgender Day of Visibility, Hiltz, whose sex was assigned as female at birth, took to social media to publicly address their gender identity.

鈥淭he best way I can explain my gender is as fluid. Sometimes I wake up feeling like a powerful queen and other days I wake up feeling as if I鈥檓 just a guy being a dude,鈥� Hiltz wrote in an post.

Hiltz has expressed a desire to eventually have top surgery as well as hormone replacement therapy, the latter of which they will refrain from beginning until their competitive running career is over. As per official rules instituted by World Athletics, the international governing body for track and field, athletes who were assigned female at birth are allowed to compete in women鈥檚 categories so long as they haven鈥檛 received hormone therapy.

The identity announcement on Instagram, which occurred two months before the Covid-delayed 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials, was met with a mix of support and hostility. Hiltz was inundated with public comments and private direct messages.

The political climate toward transgender people in America at the time was less than accepting. On a national level, transgender inclusivity鈥攑articularly in sports鈥攂ecame a political linchpin. In 2021, Arkansas became the first state in the country to ban gender-affirming health care for minors. Another 154 anti-trans bills followed that year, with the number rising each year thereafter.

鈥淚t was a really hard time,鈥� Hiltz says. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 ready for that backlash. I did have a lot of love and support, but I wasn鈥檛 used to getting that much ugliness or hate. It really affected me later on that season.鈥�

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When Hiltz lined up at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June 2021, they showed early promise, winning their semi-final heat. But they crumbled in the final, finishing in last place, over 12 seconds behind winner St. Pierre. Their long-term dream of running for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics was over. Hiltz later revealed that stress-induced sickness leading into the race had impacted their performance. They felt neither confident nor calm going into the competition. Simply showing up despite feeling scared and vulnerable, however, was necessary to display inclusivity in sports, Hiltz says.

Their career continued to transition. Hiltz, who had been sponsored by Adidas since 2018, didn鈥檛 re-sign with the brand after their contract expired at the end of 2021. Instead, Hiltz joined Lululemon in 2022 as a brand ambassador, describing the partnership as a gut decision.

鈥淭his was a brand that understood what I was trying to do on the track and reach all of my personal goals, but also knew that I was trying to grow the sport in other ways,鈥� says Hiltz, who had relocated from San Diego to Flagstaff to train under Northern Arizona University track coach Mike Smith.

鈥淚t just felt right,鈥� Hiltz says. 鈥淢ike Smith is a great guy, and I feel like we connected right away. It was definitely a leap of faith. I was looking at the big picture鈥攖hat this was hopefully going to set me up for a good Olympic year in two years.鈥�

Making Progress

With time, patience, renewed confidence, and hard work, Hiltz progressed. In February 2023, they became the first openly nonbinary U.S. national champion when they won the 1500 meters at the U.S. indoor championships. Two months later, Hiltz won the U.S. 1-mile road running championship, and then in June they completed a sweep of U.S. championship events by winning the 1500 at the U.S. outdoor championships.

Two weeks later, at the Monaco Diamond League meet, they finished a strong sixth place in the fastest women鈥檚 mile in history, crossing the line in 4:16.35 to break the American mile record that had stood for 38 years.

Although they missed making the 1500 meter finals at last summer鈥檚 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hiltz has rebounded with a strong season so far in 2024. Not only did they win another indoor U.S. title in the 1500, they also brought home the silver medal in the event from the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Scotland in March.

They believe their newfound priority on their mental fitness this season has kept them mentally and emotionally sound more than ever鈥攁nd racing to the top of the podium.

鈥淚t is hard work at times to prioritize this stuff, especially when you鈥檙e so busy, and life gets in the way, but I think it鈥檚 super important,鈥� Hiltz says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 unlocked something in me and allowed me to excel at the next level.鈥�

For 100 consecutive days leading up to the Olympic Trials, they invested in a daily guided meditation practice using the app. Journaling also became a daily habit, writing clear goals as a way to manifest their ambitions. Hiltz has also maintained a list of inspirational and motivational words and quotes in the notes app on their smartphone, referring to it whenever they experience moments of doubt. This collective mental toolbox will continue to be part of their preparation leading into their Olympics Games debut.

Hiltz鈥� partner, , also an elite runner who competed in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at this year鈥檚 U.S. Olympic Trials, has seen positive results first-hand.

鈥淭hey鈥檝e done a great job of prioritizing their mental health during this Olympic build,鈥� Gee says. 鈥淚鈥檝e noticed meditation and working with a sports psychologist has contributed to their focus and resilience, which has led to confident performances this season.鈥�

That digging deep over the final 100 to outsprint the field and break the tape in the women鈥檚 1500 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials, a race many consider to be the deepest American field ever assembled, with four Olympians, three national champions, and seven sub-4 minute performers.

Hiltz not only ran the second-fastest time ever of any American in the women鈥檚 1500, clocking a trials record of 3:55.33, they cemented a spot on Team USA, achieving a lifelong ambition. The result, a personal best for Hiltz, catapulted their ranking to in the women鈥檚 1500. Currently, they have the in the world heading into the Olympic Games, just ahead of American teammates Emily Mackay andPierre.

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The Olympic Trials win, on the last day of Pride Month, was of particular significance for Hiltz. In a post-race interview with NBC Sports, they said they had dedicated the race to the LGBTQ+ community, commenting, 鈥淭his is bigger than just me.鈥�

鈥淣ikki鈥檚 participation in the Paris Olympics as one of the few nonbinary athletes serves as an important moment for Queer representation in sports,鈥� Gee says. 鈥淚t underscores the fundamental right of transgender and nonbinary individuals to show up as their authentic selves and belong wherever they choose to be.鈥�

Hiltz has leaned into advocating for the LGBTQ+ community in sports and beyond throughout their pro career. They founded the annual in 2020, through which they have donated $172,000 to the, an organization that provides crisis and suicide intervention for LGBTQ+ youth. The 2024 race on October 12 will fundraise for the nonprofit, an organization that offers health and wellness care to the transgender community.

鈥淪omething I always go back to is a motto I live by: 鈥楤e the person you needed when you were younger.鈥� That has really driven me,鈥� Hiltz says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important because you鈥檙e making space for a young version of Nikki out there now.鈥�

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Onto the World Stage听

While Hiltz still gets inundated with comments about their trans and nonbinary identity鈥攂oth positive and negative鈥攑rioritizing their mental health and establishing a routine of mental wellbeing practices has helped them face and overcome the negativity.

鈥淚 feel very at peace with myself,鈥� Hiltz says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been so great to personally do the work to know that I belong, this is a legit thing, and trans people exist.鈥�

The Olympics will serve as an even greater platform for Hiltz to promote inclusivity while competing on running鈥檚 biggest stage. Hiltz, who will participate in the women鈥檚 1500 meters, beginning on August 6 in Paris, will be one of few nonbinary athletes across all sports who will compete in Paris.

鈥淣ow it鈥檚 the world that I have to race. That鈥檚 really exciting to me,鈥� Hiltz says. 鈥淓veryone is just leveling up right now. I鈥檓 excited to be a part of that, and to just go out there and see what I can do.鈥�

Their goal is to advance to the August 10 final to have an opportunity to race for a medal. They鈥檒l face a deep field that will include world record holder and two-time reigning Olympic champion

鈥淣ikki is a formidable competitor,鈥� Gee says. 鈥淭hey are strong, fast, strategic, and confident. With their current form and mentality, I believe they are capable of making the 1500 Olympic final and finishing in the top half of that race.鈥�

The post The Secret to Nikki Hiltz鈥檚 Olympic Breakthrough appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Last November, 17-year-old Sebastian Salsbury received an email reminder. He had 13 days to decide about entering the race lottery for the 2024 Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run, regarded as one of the most prestigious trail events in the world.

Rules stipulate that each lottery applicant must be at least 18 years old on race day. On January 20, Salsbury will finally meet the age requirement, five years after he technically ran a qualifying time to enter the lottery for the first time.

It鈥檚 been a goal he鈥檚 been progressing toward for years. In 2020, when Salsbury was 13, he completed the in Arizona in 15 hours 49 minutes and 32 seconds, well within the 17-hour time limit necessary to qualify for the Western States lottery.听

鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to put that experience into words,鈥� Salsbury says. 鈥淚t was one of the most beautiful courses I鈥檝e ever been on. That race made me feel like I was doing the right thing in my life.鈥澨�

Starting Young

Salsbury, who grew up in Santa Barbara, California, was attracted to the trails at a young age. Throughout his childhood, his parents often brought him to nearby trails to hike. The hikes gradually transitioned into jogs, and Salsbury鈥檚 relationship with the outdoors continued to grow. The mountains, he says, were a playground.

Though Salsbury played basketball, football, and soccer growing up, his love for running took over. He quit the other sports after junior high school to minimize risk for injury, he says, and to dedicate more time to running.

A few years after Salsbury鈥檚 entry into racing鈥攈is first was a local 5K on the road when he was four鈥攈e ran the Santa Barbara Red Rock Trail Run. Despite being just nine, he kept up with his father for all 28 miles. The following year, for the Santa Barbara Nine Trails, Salsbury traversed 35 miles with nearly 12,000 feet of vertical gain from the Jesusita trailhead to Romero Canyon trailhead and back, again alongside his father, a road marathoner.

Next, Salsbury entered the Black Canyon 100K in Arizona. He recalled the point-to-point race as one of his most difficult running experiences to date.

鈥淚 was basically crying,鈥� Salsbury remembers, adding that his hydration vest kept digging into his ribs. 鈥淚 loved the feeling of working hard and going through really low moments and overcoming them. I crave it.鈥�

Supported for the last 20 miles by his coach at the time, Tyler Hansen, Salsbury crossed the finish feeling both defeated and uplifted. The Black Canyon race gave him the confidence to continue challenging himself in ultrarunning.

鈥淢y best friends don鈥檛 understand,鈥� Salsbury says about the pursuit of ultras, which he envisions including some of the most technically demanding and prestigious races in the world: the Western States 100 in California, Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc through the French Alps, as well as the Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run in Colorado. Salsbury admits that running disrupts his social life, and also that he doesn鈥檛 mind the solitude the sport necessitates. In fact, he welcomes it.

鈥淚 like the feeling of being alone in the mountains,鈥� Salsbury says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way to free your mind.鈥�

Given that he is still a teen鈥攖he average age of trail runners is in the mid-30s鈥擲alsbury has not been immune to negative comments over the years. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not cool at all to hate, but I can still see where someone would be coming from, seeing a kid doing all that stuff,鈥� Salsbury says. 鈥淭here are going to be people that troll and hate for no reason. That鈥檚 just life.鈥�

A Purposeful Progression

The training required to undertake ultras is out of this world for a typical high school runner. To ensure he鈥檚 programming himself with sufficient miles without overloading his still-developing body, Salsbury sought the guidance of his longtime role model, pro trail runner Hayden Hawks. The two met when Salsbury was 14, and their camaraderie clicked naturally.

鈥淚 had lots of mentors help me at a young age in my running journey, and I felt the responsibility to do the same with Sebastian,鈥� says Hawks, 32. 鈥淲e have taken a patient and gradual approach, developing strength, speed, and a foundation that will help him build into the longer distance races at an older age.鈥�

Hawks has coached Salsbury for the past two years, carefully mapping out a plan that tallies 50 miles weekly spread across six days. Salisbury complements the mileage with a combination of hiking, mountain biking, and intervals on an indoor bike as part of his cross training. Three days a week, he does strength exercises at Varient Training Lab in Santa Barbara. To fit it all in so he could have ample opportunity to train and compete, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Salsbury enrolled in West River Academy, an online private school program.

鈥淚 have zero regrets,鈥� Salsbury says. 鈥�The opportunity that it鈥檚 given me to travel with my family and run and be able to guide my days how I want and learn at my own pace, I鈥檓 grateful for that.鈥�

The online program lasts up to three hours a day, which is 鈥渁 lot less than standard high school,鈥� Salsbury chuckles. In 2022, he researched computer engineering and built a computer from scratch. This year, as part of the online curriculum, he鈥檚 learning to speak German in addition to researching for a project about coffee and sustainability, which he is especially interested in as a part-time certified barista. Salisbury works at a local coffee shop twice a week.

So far, he鈥檚 enjoying the unique balance of online learning and ultrarunning. 鈥淚 like to keep myself busy,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檝e always had this next-level energy. Obviously it goes into running, but it鈥檚 who I am as a person.鈥�

His days are hardly routine compared to the average high schooler. On a recent Thursday, Salsbury started the day with a three-minute cold plunge before he spent the remainder of the morning packing running shoes, thermal layers, his COROS watch, and a heart rate monitor ahead of a four-day trip to Boulder, Colorado, to train with a friend at altitude.

Living at sea level in Santa Barbara, Salsbury doesn鈥檛 often have the opportunity to run at altitude beyond twice a year, mostly 鈥渏ust a vacation with my family where I get to do some running,鈥� he says.

As much as he has run over the years, Salsbury says he鈥檚 been fortunate to never have had any serious injuries. This year, a growth spurt of eight inches led to severe shin splints, and Salsbury, who is now 6-foot-4 and 162 pounds, took four months off from running.

Now, life is back to business as usual. Salsbury is planning ahead. His next race is the La Cuesta Ranch 25K in San Luis Obispo, California, in late January. After he graduates from high school in June 2024, he wants to pursue a running career ideally full-time, though he hasn鈥檛 stated when he aims to turn professional.

鈥�I鈥檝e always had the intention to be one of the greatest ultrarunners in the world one day. That will continue to be my goal,鈥� Salsbury says. 鈥�I want to leave a positive impact on the sport and be an inspiration to other athletes of any age, but obviously the youth because that鈥檚 how I grew up. People can judge and say whatever they want, but I do want to be the best of all time.鈥�

The post This Teen Ultrarunner Wants to Take on the World鈥檚 Most Prestigious Races appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Agnes Tirop was a 25-year-old rising professional distance runner who represented Kenya at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the women鈥檚 5,000-meters. One month after she competed in her first Olympic Games, Tirop set a world record for 10K. Just as her promising career began to bud on the world stage, her life came to an abrupt end on October 13, 2021.

Tirop was found stabbed to death by her husband Ibrahim Rotich at their home in Iten, in the Rift Valley of Kenya, a training hub for many of the world鈥檚 top professional distance runners. Rotich, then 41, attempted to flee the country, but he was arrested and charged with murder.

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Tirop was a victim of gender-based violence (GBV), one of the most widespread human rights issues in the world. GBV, as , can include publicly or privately inflicted physical or sexual harm as well as economic suppression, threats of violence, manipulation, and coercion through various ways, including intimate partner violence and child marriage. According to the United Nations, while men and boys also suffer from GBV, women and girls are most at risk worldwide.

狈补颈谤辞产颈鈥檚 , founded in 2001, states that the country鈥檚 women and girls make up a disproportionately higher statistic. More than 40 percent of Kenyan women experience GBV in their lifetime, and one in three women in Kenya has experienced sexual violence before the age of 18. In the U.S., 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner, according to the , and more than 10 million adults experience domestic violence each year. about domestic violence show that one in three women have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner.

Female runners are among those numbers. Many Kenyan professional runners can fall into marriages or partnerships that take away their autonomy. Some of these women鈥攑owerful, driven, and successful in their careers鈥攔emain under the watch and control of their partners. Most women in GBV situations don鈥檛 know how to escape, or fear the repercussions of doing so.

Tirop鈥檚 tragic death made international headlines and served as a wake-up call about the dangers elite female athletes can face during their careers.

The Courage to Stand Up

In the aftermath of Tirop鈥檚 death, 34-year-old Kenyan professional marathoner Mary Ngugi took a stance.

鈥淲ith my platform as an athlete, I have a voice that I can use to change,鈥� says Ngugi, who has raced professionally for more than a decade and twice finished on the podium at the Boston Marathon. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 change the whole of Kenya in one minute, but I can make a change in athletics with girls.鈥�

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Ngugi established in Nyahururu Town, Kenya, in October 2022. Through the club, located 100 miles north of the country鈥檚 capital Nairobi, Ngugi aims to shelter and support young girls as they simultaneously pursue their education and ambitions of becoming elite champion runners.

鈥淭he best thing is to mentor them when they鈥檙e young, to empower them so they know that they deserve better, [and] to know that they have a choice,鈥� Ngugi says.

Ngugi, who is based in Leeds, England, with her husband, British sports photographer Chris Cooper, says that traveling the world to compete over the years exposed her to fairer treatment of women and girls compared to what she witnessed and experienced firsthand while living in Kenya.

鈥淭here are some things that have always frustrated me,鈥� Ngugi says. 鈥淲hen I was 17, there were young girls in [training] camps who were abused by their coaches. Some [girls] are married at a tender age because of money.鈥�

Ngugi says it鈥檚 not uncommon for young female runners to be afraid of their male coaches. Her idea for a girls-only running camp has been years in the making, initially as a way to give back to the community. Not until after the death of Tirop, whom she knew as an acquaintance, did Ngugi move her mission forward.

鈥淚t took a lot of courage to start,鈥� she says.

Ngugi funded the camp entirely when it opened, covering the costs of housing, school fees, food, training gear, and other basic supplies for eight girls. Unlike most traditional training camps for runners in Kenya, which typically consist of small single-room apartments, the girls at Nala Track Club live together in a home under the supervision of a matron, who cares for and cooks for them. Ngugi stipulates that each member of the club must attend school if they want to remain a part of Nala.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to be just another running camp. We have loads of those in Kenya. Education makes a difference,鈥� Ngugi says. 鈥淎s much as I want all of my girls to make it, I know some won鈥檛. That鈥檚 the reality of things. But I would like for them to come out of the camp with an education so that they can do something with their lives, pursue a cause or a degree.鈥�

Should any of the girls become successful in their athletic careers, Ngugi鈥檚 mission is also to ensure they are equipped to make informed decisions, especially financially, that are in their best interests.

鈥淭hese athletes could potentially earn millions of shillings,鈥� Ngugi says. 鈥淗ow are you going to invest? How are you going to sign a contract? How are you going to carry yourself with the press when you get an interview? We want them to be able to handle themselves.鈥�

Women Coaching Women

In a year since founding Nala Track Club, Kenya鈥檚 first all-girls running camp, its members have doubled to 16 girls and women between the ages of 14 and 22. Ngugi says the camp is now fully supported by Nike, her sponsor since 2006. She works closely with teachers and schools throughout Kenya to recruit national-caliber talent and prospects.

Ngugi splits her time training in the UK and Kenya. When she鈥檚 not on the ground in her home country, she helps oversee Nala from afar under the guidance of a few certified running coaches that help craft the training program, which is shared with Lilian Mugo, a local woman whom Ngugi is helping to mentor into a running coach.

Ngugi wants to develop female coaches in Kenya. To her knowledge, few, if any, women are currently coaching female runners in Kenya. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 one big reason why we started Nala,鈥� Ngugi says.

Ngugi has never been coached by a woman at any point in her career. It鈥檚 a role she envisions transitioning into full time in the future, after she retires from competitive running. After a successful track career that included becoming a two-time world half marathon medalist, Ngugi transitioned to road marathons in 2019. She was runner-up at the 2021 Boston Marathon and finished third in 2022. Ngugi placed fifth at this year鈥檚 New York City Marathon.

Achieving that level of success as an elite athlete is a dream, though not the lone goal, for the girls of the camp. At the very least, Ngugi wants to develop members of the track club to compete on the international level feeling empowered. The name of the camp, Nala, is a Swahili word in reference to lioness and also connotes the idea of a successful African woman.

鈥淚 want them to be more than just athletes. I want the girls to know their worth and to be role models to others,鈥� Ngugi says. 鈥淚 always tell my girls, 鈥榬emember what Nala stands for: Powerful. Confidence.鈥� That is what we want our girls to be.鈥�

The post This All-Girls Running Club in Kenya Protects Young Athletes appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Edward Cheserek has wanted to race the New York City Marathon ever since he was a teenage runner in New Jersey. His objective to attempt the distance of 26.2 miles is part of his long-term blueprint as he transitions away from the track and onto the road.

So far, the 29-year-old鈥攚ho left behind a legacy at the University of Oregon as the most decorated NCAA runner in history with 17 national titles鈥攊s proving he can measure up as he matures into longer road races. His long-awaited marathon debut is one the most intriguing in recent memory.

鈥淚鈥檝e been running track for a long time, and I feel like I鈥檓 losing my speed,鈥� Cheserek said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I decided this [marathon] is the best option. I decided to move up slowly.鈥�

Of the six half marathons that Cheserek has competed in鈥攈is longest competitive distance to date鈥攈e has finished in the top ten in every race, including winning the Copenhagen Half Marathon in 59:11 in September. Cheserek admitted that even he was surprised and described himself as 鈥渞usty鈥� in what was only his third road race in 2023.

RELATED: Top 10 Things to Know About The 2023 New York City Marathon

鈥楾he Hard Work Is the Training鈥�

Now, Cheserek says he is听 鈥渞eady and excited鈥� when he talks about competing in the New York City Marathon, taking place at 9:10 A.M. ET on Sunday, November 5. The world鈥檚 largest marathon, and one of the most iconic sporting events across the globe, is expected to include more than 50,000 runners from 150 countries.

The New York City Marathon also brings together one of the toughest competitive fields in the sport, but unlike other major marathons like Berlin, this race does not have pacemakers as it is not a world record-focused course. Cheserek will compete in the that will include 2021 New York City Marathon winner Albert Korir of Kenya, 2020 London Marathon champion Shura Kitata of Ethiopia, as well as Somali-Dutch runner Abdi Nageeye, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic silver medalist in the marathon. Ethiopian Tamirat Tola, the 2022 world champion who has run a personal best of 2:03:39, is the fastest entrant in New York鈥檚 elite field.

Cheserek鈥檚 opponents, however, will no longer include defending champion Evans Chebet and two-time winner Geoffrey Kamworor, both of whom withdrew from the marathon in mid-October. Chebet offered Cheserek a few words prior to his debut, 鈥淭he hard work is training, but the race is easier.鈥�

Preparing for the Podium

Cheserek began his marathon training in June, running upwards of 150 miles a week, his longest run topping out at 25 miles. Though he is based in Flagstaff, Arizona鈥攁 distance running hotbed 7,000 feet above sea level鈥擟heserek opted to prepare for the marathon while living in Kaptagat, Kenya, located nearly 8,000 feet above sea level and offering a better training advantage compared to in Flagstaff, he says. In Kenya, Cheserek said he would often run alongside Kelvin Kiptum, who broke the world record at the Chicago Marathon in October.

鈥淗e has more experience than me,鈥� Cheserek says, laughing. 鈥淚t was tough, but nothing is easy in training.鈥�

Cheserek trains under the guidance of Andy Powell, his college coach with whom he has returned to train after a brief stint with Stephen Haas, coach of 2022 New York City women’s champion, Sharon Lokedi. Cheserek relied on workout instructions via email and text and twice weekly check-ins with Powell.

And though Cheserek is based in the U.S., he officially represents Kenya in competitions, a decision he made in 2020 as he awaits to become an American citizen. His goal is to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games.

Born in Kapchebau village in the Rift Valley of Kenya, Cheserek grew up on a farm, the fourth oldest of seven siblings. He is a member of the Marakwet, a subgroup of the Kalenjin, a tribe known for its world-dominating runners that includes two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, the first man to run a marathon in less than two hours.

Cheserek, however, got his start in soccer before his father encouraged him to run. Though he hails from a family of runners, Cheserek is the only one to have taken his ability to an elite level. In 2010, at age 14, Cheserek left his family in Kenya and moved to the U.S. alone after he accepted a scholarship to attend St. Benedict鈥檚 Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey.

He quickly developed into a high school running phenom, winning two national titles in cross-country and setting the national record for two miles. Cheserek鈥檚 talent catapulted him into the public eye as he became one of the nation鈥檚 fastest high school runners and a blue-chip recruit.听

RELATED: 24 Hours with One of the World鈥檚 Best Marathoners

After Cheserek enrolled at the University of Oregon, at the time he was described in the media as one of the most exciting talents in the sport. His storied collegiate career included 14 national titles in track and three in cross-country. He became a 21-time All American by the time he graduated from Oregon in 2017 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business. That same year, Cheserek signed a sponsorship deal with the Skechers Performance Team.听

Cheserek鈥檚 foray onto the pro circuit has yet to match the illustrious career he experienced as an amateur. Although he ran a 3:49.44 indoor mile in 2018 as a first-year pro鈥攖he second-fastest in history, at the time鈥攈e has not been on a podium at a world championship or at the Olympics, partly due to the complexity of what country he鈥檇 represent and, therefore, attempt to qualify for such prestigious global competitions.听

But Cheserek remains hopeful that more is to come, and perhaps the marathon is what he is uniquely qualified to do, more so than what he has accomplished on the track. On the starting line near the base of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in Staten Island on Sunday, Cheserek will quickly figure that out.听

And though he admitted feeling a little intimidated to run his first marathon stacked against some of the world鈥檚 best, 鈥�It鈥檚 going to be tough,鈥� Cheserek said, adding, 鈥�I鈥檓 prepared for whatever happens.鈥澨�

The post Can This Former Track Star Win the New York City Marathon? appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Rahsaan Thomas still remembers immense leg cramps the day he completed his first marathon in 2017. On a cold Friday morning in November, he tied up a pair of donated white-and-grey Nikes and pounded around a quarter-mile loop of gravel, dirt, and concrete in a yard surrounded by barbed wire fences at San Quentin State Prison, a maximum-security facility 25 miles north of San Francisco, California.

Thomas grew up in Brownsville, in east Brooklyn, one of New York City鈥檚 poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods. He was 29 when he was arrested after he fatally shot someone and injured another during a drug deal. Three years later, Thomas was sentenced with 55 years to life for a second-degree murder conviction.

RELATED: Why I Run in Prison

While Thomas was incarcerated, he had dedicated himself to rehabilitation. He became a staff writer for the San Quentin News, a regular contributor to , and he developed into an acclaimed journalist, co-hosting the Pulitzer Prize-nominated podcast 鈥�,鈥� an audio production created from within San Quentin highlighting daily life in prison. Thomas also worked with several criminal justice reform groups in addition to earning an associate鈥檚 degree. And he found running.

26.2 to Life

At San Quentin, Thomas had joined the prison鈥檚 in 2013, a running program led by volunteers and implemented as a way to encourage those incarcerated to run 1,000 miles or more while serving time, says the club鈥檚 head coach Frank Ruona, a former army officer and accomplished marathoner. Ruona oversees the prison鈥檚 annual marathon, which is the subject of a new documentary , directed by Christine Yoo.

鈥淏eing able to go inside prisons is very important in order for people to understand what鈥檚 really going on in the system,鈥� Yoo says. 鈥淭his is how we can begin to address reducing incarceration. We owe it to ourselves as a society not to just lock them up and throw away the key, because these are human beings who are being punished for being poor and on drugs or have developed criminal behavior as a result of growing up in abusive households, which loops back to poverty and drugs. It鈥檚 an overwhelming and depressing situation. But what I learned from the 1000 Mile Club is that it鈥檚 possible to change lives, to make a lasting impact, that with support, rehabilitation is a realistic goal, and it can change the prison system as we know it.鈥�

Yoo says she hopes the film will inspire the incarcerated population and prison administrators to better understand the benefits of rehabilitation and want to start their own running clubs.

Running, Thomas says, gave him a breath of freedom, though it was short-lived. He ran for acceptance and simultaneously for punishment and redemption. As grueling and painful as it felt, Thomas wanted to prove that, if he could finish a marathon, he could endure anything. So he kept going around the loop, which comprised six 90-degree turns in the prison鈥檚 yard, surveilled by armed guards in towers. Thomas, nicknamed 鈥淣ew York,鈥� circled it 105 times alongside a couple dozen other incarcerated men, all of whom were members of San Quentin鈥檚 1000 Mile Club.

Dressed in loose, knee-length grey shorts and a white sweatband around his forehead, Thomas moved gingerly, urging himself not to quit. He struggled through muscle cramps on the way to finishing the marathon distance in 6 hours, 12 minutes, and 23 seconds.

鈥淭he hardest thing I鈥檝e ever done,鈥� said Thomas, 53. Now, he will run his first marathon outside the prison walls.

鈥淢y Knees Complain鈥�

Thomas was granted a commutation, a reduced sentence, from California Governor Gavin Newsom. After being incarcerated for nearly 23 years, he was released with parole on February 8, 2023. He celebrated that day by eating steak and French toast for breakfast, before he shopped for clothes and called his mother and his son.

Five months later, in July, Thomas began training for the New York City Marathon, as part of a pact he made with Claire Gelbart, whom he met at San Quentin when she volunteered as a journalism teaching assistant. They agreed to run a marathon together in the future if ever he was released.

鈥淚鈥檇 always wanted to walk from Brooklyn to Harlem just to see New York,鈥� Thomas says. 鈥淭he opportunity to run all five boroughs to see the whole city really appeals to me.鈥�

But he knows all too well that preparing to run a marathon is an art of consistency. 鈥淢y knees complain,鈥� he says, laughing. 鈥淚鈥檓 slow.鈥�

A Natural Leader

Fitting in the training has been a calculated effort since his release nine months ago, as life has become as busy as ever. Thomas, who currently lives in the Bay Area, is awake by 6 A.M., often starting the day at the gym for an hour before plugging into continuous Zoom meetings before mentoring youth at San Francisco鈥檚 juvenile hall.

His priority is bringing awareness to , a nonprofit Thomas co-founded and launched in June 2020 while he was incarcerated. Its mission is to use art and writing to break cycles of intergenerational incarceration and poverty and achieve public safety without violence. In October, Thomas started a with the goal of raising $120,000 to support Empowerment Avenue鈥檚 programming initiatives.

RELATED: Running in Prison Changed Everything

Mass incarceration 鈥渙nly punishes symptoms like poverty, a lack of opportunities, isolation, and a culture that breeds hate,鈥� Thomas wrote on the fundraiser page. The idea behind Empowerment Avenue is to offer a different approach by connecting incarcerated men in filmmaking, art, and journalism with respective industries to bridge creative partnerships.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about showing the world something different and at the same time getting people paid for their work so their individual lives will be better,鈥� Thomas says. 鈥淧eople coming home broke and not having the opportunity to make money legally [or] being excluded from society is not a good thing.鈥�

Thomas learned by experience while at San Quentin, where he began his writing career from his four-by-nine-foot cell. He says Empowerment Avenue helped normalize inclusion of his work as a writer from behind bars.

鈥淲hen you include people in society and provide economic opportunities to heal, you get people that don鈥檛 come back to prison,鈥� Thomas says. 鈥淵ou get people that become productive members of society.鈥�

Empowerment Avenue鈥檚 fundraising initiative comprises tiered goals: $5,000 can support the expansion of a writing development program at the Dr. Lane Murray Unit, a women鈥檚 prison of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Gatesville, Texas; $10,000 can aid a year of books, magazines, stamps, and other supplies for Empowerment Avenue writers and artists; upwards of $40,000 will support the production of an exhibition curated by an incarcerated artist as well as funding for a film.

Thomas says his goal is to employ the formerly incarcerated on staff as he continues to expand Empowerment Avenue. He hopes that by running the New York City Marathon he can bring necessary awareness that can help make an impact.

鈥淲e鈥檙e a proof of concept. We鈥檙e showing the public the importance of having access to society, getting our messages out, holding the system accountable,鈥� says Thomas. 鈥淣o matter how hard it is, you鈥檝e got to keep going. I keep going.鈥�

The post His First Marathon Was in Prison. His Second Will Be in New York City. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

6:00 A.M.

Four weeks out from competing in the 2023 New York City Marathon, one of the world鈥檚 most prestigious road races, an alarm clock gently buzzes, signaling the start of the day for 33-year-old Hellen Obiri.

Despite having rested for nearly nine hours, Obiri, a two-time world champion from Kenya, says the alarm is necessary, otherwise she can oversleep. This morning鈥檚 training session of 12 miles at an easy pace is the first of two workouts on her schedule for the day as she prepares for the New York City Marathon on November 5.

The race will be her third attempt in the distance since she graduated from a successful track career and transitioned into road racing in 2022. Obiri placed sixth at her marathon debut in New York last November, finishing in 2:25:49.

鈥淚 was not going there to win. I was there to participate and to learn,鈥� she says, adding that the experience taught her to be patient with the distance. This time around in New York, she wants to claim the title.

6:38 A.M.

Obiri drinks two glasses of water, but she hasn鈥檛 eaten anything by the time she steps outside of her two-bedroom apartment in the Gunbarrel neighborhood of Boulder, Colorado.

In September 2022, the three-time Olympian moved nearly 9,000 miles from her home in the Ngong Hills, on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, to Colorado. She wanted to pursue her marathon ambitions under the guidance of coach and three-time Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein, who is the fourth-fastest U.S. marathoner in history. Ritzenhein retired from professional running in 2020 and now oversees the Boulder-based On Athletics Club (OAC), a group of elite professional distance runners supported by Swiss sportswear company On.

Obiri, who was previously sponsored by Nike for 12 years before she signed a deal with On in 2022, said that moving across the world wasn鈥檛 a difficult decision. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity. Since I came here, I鈥檝e been improving so well in road races.鈥�

In April, Obiri won the Boston Marathon. It was only her second effort in the distance, and the victory has continued to fuel her momentum for other major goals that include aiming for gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics and also running the six most competitive and prestigious marathons in the world, known as the World Marathon Majors.

Obiri says goodbye to her eight-year-old daughter Tania and gets into a car to drive six miles to Lefthand trailhead, where she runs on dirt five days a week. She will train on an empty stomach, which she prefers for runs that are less than 15 miles. Once, she ate two slices of bread 40 minutes before a 21-mile run and was bothered by side stitches throughout the workout. Now, she is exceptionally careful about her fueling habits.

6:56 A.M.

Three runners stretch next to their cars as Obiri clicks a watch on her right wrist and begins to shuffle her feet. Her warmup is purposely slow. In this part of Colorado, at 5,400 feet, the 48-degree air feels frostier and deserving of gloves, but Obiri runs without her hands covered. She is dressed in a thin olive-colored jacket, long black tights, and a black pair of unreleased On shoes.

Obiri鈥檚 feet clap against a long dirt road flanked by farmland that is dotted with horses and a few donkeys. Her breath is hardly audible as she escalates her rhythm to an average pace of six minutes and 14 seconds per mile. This run adds to her weekly program of 124 miles鈥攕ome days, she runs twice. The cadence this morning is hardly tough on her lungs as she runs with her mouth closed, eyes intently staring ahead at the cotton-candy pink sunrise.

鈥淏eautiful,鈥� Obiri says.

Her body navigates each turn as though on autopilot. Obiri runs alone on easy days like today, but for harder sessions, up to four pacers will join her.

鈥淭hey help me to get the rhythm of speed,鈥� Obiri says. For longer runs exceeding 15 miles, Ritzenhein will bike alongside Obiri to manage her hydration needs, handing her bottles of Maurten at three-mile increments.

RELATED: Who Wore Which Shoes at the 2023 Boston Marathon

8:21 A.M.

After an hour, Obiri wipes minimal sweat glistening on her forehead. Her breathing is steady, and her face appears as fresh as when she began the run. She does not stretch before getting into the car to return home.

The remainder of the morning is routine: a shower followed by a breakfast of bread, Weetabix cereal biscuits, a banana, and Kenyan chai鈥攁 mix of milk, black tea, and sugar. She likes to drink up to four cups of chai throughout the day, making the concoction with tea leaves gifted from fellow Kenyan athletes she sees at races.

Then, she will nap, sometimes just for 30 minutes, and other times upwards of two hours. 鈥淭he most important thing is sleeping,鈥� Obiri says. 鈥淲hen I go to my second run [of the day], I feel my body is fresh to do the workout. If I don鈥檛 sleep, I feel a lot of fatigue from the morning run.鈥�

1:00 P.M.

Obiri prepares lunch. Normally she eats at noon, but today her schedule is busier than usual. She cooks rice, broccoli, beets, carrots, and cabbage mixed with peanuts. Sometimes she makes chapati, a type of Indian flatbread commonly eaten in Kenya, or else she eats beans with rice.

The diet is typical among elite Kenyan athletes, and she hasn鈥檛 changed her eating habits since moving to the U.S. Obiri discovered a grocery store in Denver that offers African products, so she stocks up on ingredients like ground corn flour, which she uses to make ugali, a dense porridge and staple dish in many East African countries. She is still working through 20 pounds of flour she bought in June.

2:15 P.M.

Obiri receives an hour massage, part of her routine in the early afternoon, three times a week. Usually the session is at the hands of a local physiotherapist, but sometimes Austin-based physiotherapist Kiplimo Chemirmir will fly in for a few days. Chemirmir, a former elite runner from Kenya, practices what he refers to as 鈥淜enthaichi massage,鈥� an aggressive technique that involves stretching muscles in short intervals.

3:00 P.M.

Ritzenhein modifies Obiri鈥檚 training schedule, omitting her afternoon six-mile run so she can rest for the remainder of the day and reset for a speed workout tomorrow morning. Last fall, he took over training Obiri, who was previously coached by her agent Ricky Simms, who represented Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, an eight-time gold medalist and world record holder, and British long distance runner Mo Farah, a four-time Olympic gold medalist.

Ritzenhein has programmed Obiri鈥檚 progression into the marathon with more volume and strength training. The meticulous preparation is essential to avoid the aftermath of her marathon debut in New York City last fall, when she was escorted off the course in a wheelchair after lacking a calculated fueling and hydration strategy. Obiri had averaged running 5:33-minute miles on a hilly route that is considered to be one of the most difficult of all the world marathon major races.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a real racing race. You have to make the right moves; you have to understand the course,鈥� Ritzenhein says of the New York City Marathon. 鈥淲e鈥檝e changed some things in training to be a little more prepared. We鈥檝e been going to Magnolia Road, which is a very famous place from running lore鈥攈igh altitude, very hilly. We鈥檝e been doing some long runs up there. In general, she鈥檚 got many more 35 and 40K [21 and 24 miles] runs than she had before New York last year.鈥�

In New York, Obiri is aiming to keep pace alongside a decorated elite field that will include Olympic gold medalist Peres Jepchirchir, former women鈥檚 marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei, and defending New York Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi, all of whom are from Kenya. In fact, Kenyan women have historically dominated at the New York City Marathon, winning nine titles since 2010 and 14 total to date, the most of any country since women were permitted to race in 1972.

鈥淭hey are all friendly ladies,鈥� Obiri says. 鈥淏ut you know, in sports we are enemies. It鈥檚 like a war. Everybody wants to win.鈥�

3:10 P.M.

While Obiri is finishing her massage, her daughter returns from school. Though Obiri arrived in Colorado last fall, her husband Tom Nyaundi and their daughter didn鈥檛 officially move to the U.S. until this past March. The adjustment, Obiri says, was a hard moment for the family.

鈥淲e didn鈥檛 have a car. In the U.S. you can鈥檛 move [around] if you don鈥檛 have a car. We had a very good team that helped us a lot,鈥� Obiri says of the OAC, whom she refers to as her friends. 鈥淭he athletes made everything easier for us. They were dropping my daughter to school. Coach would pick me up in the morning, take me to massage, to the store. I was lucky they were very supportive.鈥� Now, Obiri says she and her family have fully adjusted to living in the U.S.

3:20 P.M.

Obiri returns home and makes a tomato and egg sandwich before taking another nap. Usually she naps for up to two hours after lunch. Today, her nap is later and will last for two and a half hours.

7:00 P.M.

Obiri doesn鈥檛 eat out or order takeaway. 鈥淲e are not used to American food,鈥� she says, smiling. 鈥淚 enjoy making food at home.鈥� Dinner is a rotation of Kenyan dishes like sukuma wiki鈥攕aut茅ed collard greens that accompany ugali鈥攐r pilau, a rice-based dish made with chicken, goat, or beef. This evening, she prepares ugali with sukuma wiki and fried eggs.

8:30 P.M.

Before bed, Obiri says she can鈥檛 resist a nightcap of Kenyan chai. She will pray before falling asleep. And when she wakes up at 6:00 A.M. the next day, she will prepare for a track session, the intervals of which add up to nearly 13 miles: a 5K warmup, followed by 1 set of 4×200 meters at 32 seconds (200 meter jog between each rep); 3 sets of 4×200 meters at 33 seconds听 (200 meter jog between each rep); 5×1600 meters at 5:12 (200 meter jog between each rep) and finishing with a 5K cool down.

The workout is another one in the books that will bring her a step closer to the starting line of the race she envisions winning. 鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 so strong,鈥� Obiri says. She knows New York will be tough. But 鈥渨hen I go to a race I say, 鈥榶ou have to fight.鈥� And if you try and give your best, you will do something good.鈥�

RELATED: Evans Chebet, Hellen Obiri Win the 2023 Boston Marathon

The post 24 Hours with One of the World鈥檚 Best Marathoners appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Early morning in the Ari猫ge Pyr茅n茅es in southwest France offers an exhale of sherbert-colored light that colors the horizon. Daybreak glows over granite and volcanic rock jutting from the surface of the earth. The air is refreshingly cool; life here is wild, remote and still.

If you can get here, a dose of this serenity is a reward. That is part of the challenge seven miles away for a group of 15 runners from all over the world as they plunge their feet onto the serrated terrain, carefully surveying the ground with each step. They鈥檇 gathered two days ago in Toulouse, France, introducing themselves by first name and astrological sign.

鈥淵ou can call me Mau,鈥� said Mexican ultrarunner Maurcio D铆az, adding, 鈥淎ries, a lot of fire!鈥�

He is here with the group as part of a weeklong retreat in the Gaudies region of France, hosted by , a running brand cofounded by D铆az in Mexico City, in 2018, with creative partner and photographer Daniel Almaz谩n Klinckwort and Manuel Morato.

The idea behind Aire Libre (鈥渇ree air,鈥� in Spanish) is to bring runners off-road and into nature through curated trail running and hiking excursions led by local experts, often weaving in a spiritual dimension. It encourages each person to simultaneously disconnect and reconnect.

A Good Kind of Crazy

鈥淚t鈥檚 a different way to appreciate running,鈥� D铆az says. Soft-spoken with a thick, dark beard that envelopes half of his face, D铆az is the good kind of crazy, a man whose reserved demeanor doesn鈥檛 reveal his outrageously adventurous side.

One time, he ran 56 miles with a few friends, starting at 5:30 A.M. across the Sonoran desert in northwestern Mexico, a desolate area that is home to the Indigenous Seri people. The ultra was not a competition. Rather, it was a self-induced challenge鈥攁 dangerous one, too. D铆az intended to run two marathons back-to-back in stifling heat across 13 hours on a route known now for drug trafficking. There was a moment when he began to break down from excruciating pain in his knees and calves; he didn鈥檛 know if he could endure another step. D铆az was ready to quit until a Seri leader, who had been escorting the runners, began chanting and playing instruments as part of a ritual.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a different way to appreciate running.鈥�

By the end of the journey at the Sea of Cortez, where D铆az plunged into cool saltwater, he had a born-again moment with running. Rather than being absorbed by splits on a watch, or Strava, or collecting a race medal, what if running could be a means to understand that nature and movement are essential for one鈥檚 life and happiness?

The question seeded his motivation to discover more of the world through running, and to bring others along the journey. D铆az brought it to life with Aire Libre, a series of mindfulness and cultural running retreats around the world鈥攁mong them in the Andes Mountain Range in Peru, Chile鈥檚 Lake District on the northern tip of Patagonia, on ancient trails in Oaxaca, Mexico, and high into the mountains of the Pyr茅n茅es in France.

Playground Amid the Peaks

Stretching 270 miles along the French-Spanish border, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, the French Pyr茅n茅es appear unblemished by human touch. The landscape, anchored in the Occitanie region of France, is a palace of emerald valleys and lakes adjacent glacier streams that offer a sort of white noise lullaby. Wild goats freckle the narrow ridges, unfazed by the high altitude, which can exceed 10,000 feet.

Thirty-four-year-old Thomas Galpin, the mountain guide for this retreat, lives on the outskirts of Toulouse and describes the Pyr茅n茅es as more rugged and rustic compared to the better-known French Alps. After a decade of spending weekends running and hiking in the Pyr茅n茅es, Galpin, he decided to solo-traverse 500 miles across the whole mountain range in 30 days in 2019.

鈥淭his is my garden,鈥� he tells the group of mostly late 30-something men and women.

Many here have already participated in at least one previous Aire Libre retreat, drawn back by the power of the experiences. You know what you鈥檙e getting yourself into, a few of them say.

RELATED: Is Hut-to-Hut Running on Your Bucket List? It Should Be.

Galpin will lead the group along today鈥檚 route, considered the most demanding in Ari猫ge: seven miles with 4,000 feet of elevation gain. The participants鈥攆rom as far away as San Francisco, Chicago, and Mexico City鈥攕tand at the beginning of the unnamed route, marked with two perpendicular white and red lines. The singletrack trail leads to Mont Fourcat, where the peak offers a sweeping view of the upper Ari猫ge.

D铆az had told the group at the start of the hike, 鈥淭his trail is like a door. We are entering a space that will be our playground. I like to talk to the Earth, touch the ground.鈥� Consider setting an intention, D铆az encouraged. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to establish a connection with the land.鈥� Silence followed as each participant closed their eyes. A few people knelt down and imprinted their hands on the dirt or cradled a rock.

Galpin sets a leisurely pace that will bring the group to the top of Mont Fourcat in six hours. 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to explain what it gives you,鈥� Galpin says as he begins a sweat-inducing saunter up the steep incline. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 very pure. You have to be patient and grateful with the environment.鈥�

Though the retreat, which includes hiking, trail running, and yoga, is classified as 鈥渋ntermediate鈥� level on Aire Libre鈥檚 website, the fitness and athletic abilities of each participant ranges widely. To maintain cohesiveness, Galpin takes several breaks, including a picnic with saucisson and brie sandwiches dabbed with homemade hummus.

Each person carries two days worth of essentials loaded onto their backs. They will basecamp at , the highest refuge in Ari猫ge, at 8,021 feet, and will explore the surrounding peaks and trails, one of which threads south into Andorra.

Extended Family

The scent of salt, fat, and carbs wafts through the air early evening as the group lumbers onto a wooden deck, finally arriving at the refuge. It no longer feels like summer. Rather, a blanket of fall meets winter. Up here, the mountains look otherworldly.

鈥淲e鈥檙e a step closer to heaven,鈥� says Dan O鈥橞rien, 30, a senior manager of financial planning from Chicago, who came along for his second Aire Libre retreat.

鈥淏onjour,鈥� says Lolo, a scruffy-bearded man, as he snubs out a cigarette while jamming to rock and roll music on a radio. Lolo is one of three guardians at the refuge. He remains onsite in 10-day increments, cooking and cleaning for guests. The lodging is open from the end of June until mid-September, and it鈥檚 so remote that the majority of supplies are delivered four times a year, via helicopter.

鈥淭his place is completely Wes Anderson-esque,鈥� D铆az says as he walks to the front of the refuge鈥檚 beautiful exterior鈥攑art chocolate brown wood paneling and stone with red-orange shutters. Everyone removes their dirt-caked shoes before entering. Crocs are available for guests, shelved by the doorway.

Inside serves the kind of chill that requires a jacket at all times, especially to sleep. A source of warmth is rationed as one four-minute hot shower per guest per day before the water automatically shuts off. Solar power keeps the electricity on during the day, but headlamps are the only light source at night, used also to find one鈥檚 way to their bed in one of nine bunk-style dormitories, outfitted with twin-sized mattresses that are spaced inches apart.

After everyone settles, beer and red wine flow as they sit around wrapped in wool blankets, appearing euphoric yet dazed. Lolo prepares lentil soup, ratatouille, and beef stew that will precede a cheese plate and a pear tart. Over dinner, a question is posed: Why are you here? What compelled each person to shell out $2,500鈥攖he price tag sans flight鈥攖o partake in this physically demanding escape from their daily realities?

D铆az recognizes that the demographic of Aire Libre retreats trends toward groups of mostly single individuals in their late 30s with disposable income. But he shares that the retreats are also certainly not designed to be an exclusive experience. He is working to shift this narrative with partnerships and grants as a way to offset the costs and offer complimentary spots for people without the financial means to participate.

For now, many participants are those who have the means to explore corners of the world they wouldn鈥檛 feel comfortable traveling to solo. One runner comments that these retreats are a way to meet friends with similar interests that don鈥檛 only revolve around children.

鈥淭here is something special about the combination of wonderful people from all over the world, while pushing yourself to new limits and discovering parts of the world you could only see from exploring on foot,鈥� says Shelby Rhodes, a chief of staff for YouTube in California. This is her third Aire Libre retreat.

鈥淭he challenge of doing something I鈥檓 scared of,鈥� says Jacqueline Arroyo, a hair designer from Mexico City. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what makes the experience beautiful.鈥�

Another participant, Julie Morill, an international emergency preparedness consultant from Virginia, uses the term 鈥淭ype 2 fun,鈥� that sweet spot of suffering in the moment that afterward recasts into a sense of accomplishment.

鈥淭he challenge of doing something I鈥檓 scared of. That鈥檚 what makes the experience beautiful.鈥�

And for Stefan Fiebig, a software project manager from Hamburg, Germany, it鈥檚 to seek meaningful connections that he can鈥檛 seem to build in the commercial running landscape, where lucrative sponsorships from multi-million dollar brands influence the experience, and can make the running experience feel less intimate. He thinks Aire Libre is a welcome contrast, a non-corporate way to connect to the sport, and now the retreats are how he prefers to travel. 鈥淚t feels like family when you鈥檙e on one of these trips,鈥� he says.

The retreats are indeed tight-knit, with an average of 15 participants. D铆az comments that the experiences tend to attract open-minded individuals ready for a challenge鈥損erhaps even an epiphany. 鈥淲hoever comes is probably at a point in life where they鈥檙e going through X or Y,鈥� he says. 鈥淢uch of the time it has to do with self-discovery.鈥�

RELATED: This Retreat Is Helping Support Women of Color in the Running Industry

Running as Harmony

Two days after ascending Mont Fourcat, followed by a 10-mile run-hike over the Tristagne mountain range the next day, the group is ready to lay still. Full-body soreness has left many in need of a more gentle activity. But first they must retrace their footsteps down the mountain鈥攁nother four hours of walking, after which they arrive at a parking lot where they left two vans. The group drives off on a traffic-less road that slices through sunflower fields. Within an hour, the vans pull into a gravel driveway surrounded by French and English lavender that leads to , an 18th-century stone farmhouse that is the base for the duration of the trip.

The property, formerly a working dairy farm until the 1970s, was purchased and restored in 2014 by a British couple, Mike and Joss Tucker, who now operate it as a bed and breakfast, often hosting cycling, running and wellness retreats throughout the year.

Local instructor and mountain guide-in-training Solenne Gauthier meets the group to lead a yoga session, while each runner rolls out a mat onto the grass outside the farmhouse. Aire Libre retreats incorporate various practices like this to weave mindfulness into the running component. Some practices are specific to the locality鈥攍ike offering a temazcal ceremony in Mexico鈥攚hile each ritual is integrated as a means to help each person feel grounded and present, D铆az says.

The retreat ends with an immersive surprise visit to , a honeybee farm operated by Anne Kneur-Didier. She welcomes the group into a room and allocates various white bee suits. Then, Kneur-Didier leads a walk down to dozens of dark wooden boxes full of hives. She has a favorite, lifting a tray covered with thousands of bees. This particular hive is more cooperative, she explains, as she uses her bare hands to pick up the queen bee tagged with a green sticker. Bees circle and buzz, clinging onto everyone鈥檚 clothing, and yet, there is a serenity at play among the two-legged ones and the winged ones.

Perhaps running is just the excuse, and that what really brought everyone here on this running retreat is to better understand a life best understood in harmony.

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In April, marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge did something unusual: He apologized for losing. On a cold and rainy Monday at the Boston Marathon, the two-time Olympic champion from Kenya faded from the front pack after leading for 19 miles of the race. He finished sixth overall in 2:09:23, three minutes behind winner Evans Chebet of Kenya.

The next day, Kipchoge sat behind a blue table dressed in an orange jacket and gripping a microphone as he faced a frenzy of questions from the media about his uncharacteristic performance. His left leg gave him problems during the race, Kipchoge said during a post-marathon press conference. Despite that, no, he didn鈥檛 think about quitting, adding, 鈥渢hey say it鈥檚 important to win, but it鈥檚 great to participate and finish.鈥�

Kipchoge鈥檚 performance and words were a mark of resilience at the world鈥檚 oldest annual marathon, and one of the most prestigious road races across the globe. Now, five months after his highly-publicized Boston debut, he is ready for another run this Sunday, September 24, when he toes the starting line for the 49th edition of the Berlin Marathon at 9:15 A.M. CET (3:15 E.T.).

鈥淚 Fell Down, But I Got Back Up.鈥�

鈥淭his is the higher branch now,鈥� Kipchoge said on Thursday morning at the Intercontinental Hotel, the elite athlete hub for the marathon. 鈥淚 grabbed this one, and I鈥檒l wait for the next one.鈥�

The analogy is one he often references about moving forward. 鈥淚f you want to be successful, then you learn from failure. I failed in Boston. I fell down, but I got back up.鈥�

Kipchoge arrived in the German capital on a sunny Tuesday afternoon, greeted at the airport with a bouquet of sunflowers from Claus-Henning Schulke, the man who has served as Kipchoge鈥檚 race day bottle handler since 2017. Though a light blue face mask covered Kipchoge鈥檚 signature pearly wide smile as he wheeled a carry-on suitcase, his eyes glowed as he hugged Schulke and received the flowers, an annual tradition here in Berlin and symbolic of good fortune.

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鈥淚t鈥檚 like home,鈥� Kipchoge said as he sat calmly sipping tea, smiling as he reflected on his previous Berlin Marathon experiences. He has visited Berlin several times in the past, and the city holds special significance. It鈥檚 where he achieved two marathon world records, lastly in 2022, when he ran 2:01:09, lowering his former world mark from 2018 by 30 seconds.

Kipchoge’s Outstanding Track and Marathon Career

After a standout track career as a 5,000-meter specialist, Kipchoge found his calling in 26.2 miles in 2013, when he debuted in Hamburg, Germany. He won and set a course record of 2:05:30 in the process. Five months later, Kipchoge ran his first Berlin Marathon, finishing second to fellow countryman Wilson Kipsang, who won in world-record time. Kipchoge would go on to win 15 marathons, including four London Marathon titles and back-to-back victories in 2016 and 2022 at the Olympic Games. (Two of the marathons鈥攖he Ineos 1:59 Challenge in 2019 and the Nike-sponsored Breaking2 project in 2017鈥攚ere not an open competition, and therefore his times of 2:00:25 and 1:59:40 are not officially recognized by World Athletics.)

Berlin Marathon 2023: The Calm Before the Storm

Three days out from the start of the marathon, life is business as usual for the defending champion鈥攚ho has earned four Berlin Marathon titles in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022. Kipchoge woke up at 6:10 A.M. for a jog in Tiergarten, Berlin鈥檚 largest and most popular urban park. Then, he sipped tea followed by a massage before several interviews from local and international press.

He is as calm as ever, not minding the fact that he will face off against a field that includes Kenyan Amos Kipruto, the 2022 London Marathon champion, and the second-fastest entrant at this year鈥檚 Berlin race. Kipruto finished second to Kipchoge at the Tokyo Marathon in 2022. Kipchoge鈥檚 personal best is two minutes faster than Kipruto鈥檚 2:03:13 finish.

In his sixth Berlin Marathon appearance, the 38-year-old Kipchoge is aiming for an unprecedented fifth title. He is currently tied atop the list of most Berlin Marathon victories (four) with retired Ethiopian champion Haile Gebrselassie, who also twice lowered the marathon world record in Berlin.

鈥淚 want to win the race,鈥� Kipchoge flatly declared. But Berlin is also a strategic step as he eyes one of three men鈥檚 spots on Kenya鈥檚 team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. 鈥淏erlin is good preparation for next year鈥檚 Olympics in Paris,鈥� he added.

RELATED: When Will Eliud Kipchoge Slow Down?

Berlin is part of the World Marathon Majors circuit鈥攖he six largest and most competitive international marathons that include Tokyo, Boston, London, Chicago, and New York City. A race that attracts world-class competition annually, the flat asphalt course with wide sweeping turns (and the race鈥檚 hired pacemakers, brought to assist the elites to run a fast time) has monopolized record-breaking activity since 1998; nine men鈥檚 world records, including two from Kipchoge, have been achieved at the Berlin Marathon, the most of any World Marathon Majors race.

鈥淭he streets love my muscles,鈥� Kipchoge says, laughing. 鈥淭he crowds are wonderful, too.鈥�

RELATED: Watch: This Six-Star World Marathon Major Finisher Runs for Representation

Compared to his 2022 season, not much of his routine has changed. Kipchoge, who trains under coach Patrick Sang at Global Sports Communication Training Camp in Kaptagat, Kenya, routinely tallies 136 miles a week, often running twice a day at 8,200 feet above sea level in the Rift Valley of Kenya. He couples high mileage with twice-weekly hour-long cycling on an indoor trainer along with 10-minute ice baths two days a week after speed work. And he sleeps at least nine hours a day to recover from it all. The intense routine has kept Kipchoge at the top of his form for 20 marathons to date. Berlin will be his 21st marathon.

鈥淚鈥檝e never missed a training,鈥� Kipchoge says. 鈥淚 can say I鈥檓 ready.鈥�

Yet, as ready as he feels, even the marathon king gets nervous. 鈥淣ervousness shows that I am ready to race,鈥� he says. 鈥淣ervousness shows that the mind and the whole body are ready to conquer the streets. The moment you are not nervous shows that something is actually not good.鈥�

While he doesn鈥檛 let on about a specific time, one thing is clear, Kipchoge鈥檚 objective is to have a 鈥済ood鈥� race.

鈥淩unning a good time and enjoying the race and inspiring all of my fans,鈥� he says, grinning. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I call good.鈥�

RELATED: When Will Eliud Kipchoge Slow Down?

The post Eliud Kipchoge鈥檚 Greatest Competition at the Berlin Marathon? Himself. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

After cruising through the semifinal of the 200 meters on August 24 at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, American Noah Lyles will aim for gold in the final on Friday at 9:50 P.M. local time (3:50 P.M. ET) alongside teen sprint phenom Erriyon Knighton of the U.S. Lyles ran 19.76, the top time in the field of 27 competitors that competed across three heats.

Lyles and 19-year-old Knighton, the youngest-ever individual sprint medalist in world championships history, will be joined by 100-meter bronze medalist Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain as well as Kenny Bednarek of the U.S., silver medalist in 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and Canadian Andre De Grasse, the Olympic champion in the event.

Just 0.12 seconds separate Lyles from tying the world record in his signature event, the 200 meters. He is currently the behind Jamaicans Yohan Blake and eight-time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Usain Bolt, who retired in 2017.

A World Record in His Sights

As Lyles prepares for the 200-meter final on August 25, the 鈥渋t guy鈥� is bent on one big quest: to break a record that has stood for 14 years.

Bolt set the mark of 19.19 seconds during the 2009 world championships in Berlin, running at a top speed of more than 23 miles per hour, and improving his previous world record by more than a 10th of a second.

Lyles was just 12 years old at the time and had just started track, initially as a high jumper before he pursued sprinting at age 15. Lyles and his younger brother Josephus bypassed college athletics and turned pro after graduating from T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, in 2016, and signed an eight-year contract with Adidas.

RELATED: We Are in a Golden Age of Sprinting

He moved to Clermont, Florida, to be trained by top sprints coach Lance Brauman. That year, Lyles would go on to place fourth in the final of the 200 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials, breaking a 31-year-old national high school record in the process.

One year later, Lyles won his first senior national title, and in 2019, he earned his first of four world titles (including two in 200 meters, one in 4 x 100). Following his bronze medal performance in the 200 meters at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the next season he clocked 19.31 at the world championships in Eugene, Oregon, a number he had worked for in the build up to that race. He took down sprint legend Michael Johnson鈥檚 25-year American record, which Johnson famously set in 19.32 seconds while wearing golden shoes at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Lyles鈥檚 achievement at last year鈥檚 world championships bumped him above Johnson to number three of all-time in the 200 meters.

鈥淚鈥檝e Always Known That I鈥檓 the Fastest Man in the World鈥�

Lyles, 26, is the defending world champion in 200 meters, and is focusing on collecting his third gold in the event as he also aims to revise Bolt鈥檚 world record to 19.10 seconds.

Nine days before the start of the world championships, Lyles had openly declared on social media the times he would run for both the 100 and 200 meters: 9.65 and 19.10, respectively. 鈥淭hey say if they don鈥檛 know your dreams then they can鈥檛 shoot them down. But I have always been more of a guy who loves to hear the screams from the [haters], got a nice ring to it,鈥� Lyles wrote in a captioned photo on his Instagram.

鈥淚鈥檝e always known that I鈥檓 the fastest man in the world,鈥� he said after posting his fastest 100-meter in 9.83 seconds on August 20, at the National Athletics Center, and earned his first world title in the event. 鈥淚n my head, I think I鈥檓 going to break it, but everybody else has their own opinions,鈥� Lyles said.

Taking down Bolt鈥檚 200-meter world record is the subject of an exclusive docuseries, 鈥�,鈥� which premiered on Peacock the day before the start of the world championships. His mother Keisha Caine said in an interview for the docuseries what she wants for her son is 鈥渢o go out there and have fun. And I know when Noah is having fun, he runs really well.鈥�

In a short matter of time, Lyles will let his speed determine what that is.

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